Aging is a nightmare that everyone will experience, that they use various methods to delay, but somehow everyone will experience it. Being near the end of life can cause extreme stress, distress and problems that can lead to depression in some people.
So, what are the most important causes of old age depression and how can it be prevented? Let's talk about it.
First of all, wishes, desires and goals that cannot be realized during youth and adulthood form an important basis for depression in old age. For this reason, during the cognitive behavioral therapy process in young people and adults, goals and objectives that are left unfinished or never started are encouraged to be realized. Even the homework given is arranged based on these. Because unfinished goals are very important for structuring the treatment here and now and for living a more peaceful life in the future and in old age.
Not being able to have a family and children causes tension, as it means saying goodbye to life in old age without leaving anything permanent and of oneself. It can cause restlessness, anger and depression. For this reason, having a family and children in youth and adulthood, becoming a foster family if not preferred, or working voluntarily on issues related to children or owning an animal can be a solution to the sadness that may be experienced in old age in the future.
Another problem is health problems. . Health problems prevent many elderly people from living their old age well. For example; aching knees, body movements slowing down due to weight problems, blood pressure, rheumatic diseases, heart diseases, etc....
The way to minimize health problems is to solve the weight problem before a certain age, correct and healthy nutrition, regular doctor's checks, regular sports. It can be achieved through activities such as doing sports, staying active.
Since the joy of living, clinging to life and motivation will be much lower in elderly individuals who are left alone by their children or relatives, especially those who have lost their life partner, they are included in this category. Older people should be given a little more care, motivation and incentive support should be provided to help them adapt to social life, and they should be helped to hold on to life and spend the rest of their lives peacefully and happily. It is very normal for an elderly person in this situation to be angry, intolerant and cranky because his emotional state is completely disrupted. As in all matters, we should empathize in this situation, think about how we would feel if we were in this situation, think about what we can do for our elderly relative instead of blaming or slandering him, decide and implement it without delay.
In old age, people no longer have a problem. It is quite common for people to have no goals and objectives, to stay at home, to spend time just watching television, to gain or lose more weight than normal. In such a situation, the support of the family and those around them is very important to instill the joy of life in the person again.
There are many free or very low-cost activities organized by Public Education Centers and voluntary associations in each district for elderly people over a certain age. Healthy lifestyle sports activities, daily or short-term trips, different courses, dance activities, choirs, painting and volunteering are some of these. By directing the elderly people around us to these, we can enable them to make new friends appropriate to their age and to embrace life by doing many enjoyable activities with their friends.
As a result, we can spend the old age by doing sports, not staying at home, participating in continuous activities, traveling and even working, feeling that we can still be productive, active. Restlessness, anxiety, depression and anger are much less common in elderly people who have had it.
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